Utah Jazz fans are steeling for a season built on the long view, not quick wins, as a total roster renovation works to establish depth and flexibility. The 2025-26 schedule lays out three viewing lanes—milestones, reunions, and wild cards—giving fantasy owners concrete checkpoints to chase: opening-night fire, a potential NBA Cup spark, and a high-stakes run to the trade deadline. A steady stream of rookie debuts and notable returns provides multiple paths to value, even as tanking odds loom large.

Milestones anchor the year: Opening Night on Oct. 22 against the Clippers kicks off a sequence of firsts for Bailey, Clayton Jr., and Tonje; the NBA Cup opener vs the Suns tests depth in a mini-tournament setting; the Deadlines’ February clash with the Pacers could reshape the roster; the March 5 home stretch versus the Wizards will sharpen late-season decisions and draft odds dynamics. Reunions bring drama: John Collins returns in Salt Lake City, Collin Sexton seeks revenge in January, and Jordan Clarkson makes a fashionably loud homecoming against the Knicks. The Wild Card section swirls with Rutgers-tinged intrigue and tank chatter across the league, keeping every Jazz game a potential fantasy pivot.

The Knicks pivot into a new season with a clear win now mindset after a deep playoff run. New York fires Tim Thibodeau and turns to Mike Brown to shepherd a refreshed, high ceiling squad that will lean on a familiar core of Brunson, Towns, Hart, Anunoby and Bridges while sprinkling in established veterans. Clarkson and Yabusele were added to bolster a leaky bench, and one roster spot remains as chatter swirls about further upgrades. In a conference softened by injuries to key rivals, New York looks primed to be a top contender in the East.

Miles McBride is identified as a likely trade chip should the Knicks pursue more depth or wing versatility. Clarkson will push for minutes, potentially shrinking McBride's role, while a veteran guard could fill the final roster slot. McBride remains a popular fan favorite whose 3 point shooting keeps him valuable to several teams around the league. The composition hints at a rotation built for a rugged, defense-minded playoff push with enough scoring to balance the talent at the top.

The overarching storyline centers on how the offense harmonizes around Brunson while Towns brings floor spacing and interior presence, with Bridges and Anunoby serving as versatile wings. Clarkson supplies instant scoring off the bench, and Yabusele adds frontcourt depth with multi positional potential. If the right deal lands McBride or another guard, the Knicks could accelerate their ceiling while maintaining a strong defensive identity. The season hangs on fit, minutes, and how quickly new pieces mesh with the core.

Byron Scott anchored the Lakers’ Showtime lore, arriving as the No. 4 pick in 1983 and entering L.A. via a trade that sent Norm Nixon to the Clippers. He evolved from a rough rookie to a premier 3-point weapon, helping LA win titles in 1985 and 1987 and peak with a 21.7 PPG season in 1987-88. A hamstring injury sidelined him before the 1989 Finals, sealing a sweep to Detroit. Scott later circled back—ending his playing days with the Lakers in 1996-97 as a mentor to Kobe Bryant and later guiding Nets, Hornets, Cavaliers, and a final Lakers stint in 2014-16—tying the Showtime era to Kobe’s rise and Lakers’ dynasty legacy.

The piece threads nostalgia with fantasy insight: great mentorship, timing, and the evolution of a team’s core can lift a player’s ceiling long after the flash of the Showtime days fades. It frames Kobe’s maturation as part of a lineage—how veteran leadership and a clear developmental path can unlock stars—and reminds fantasy managers how historical context shapes the value of rosters and prospects across eras.

As the Lakers near their 80th season, the narrative is a reminder for fantasy: lineage, coaching influence, and the right moment can turbocharge a player’s career arc, even when the era shifts from Showtime to today’s pace and spacing. The Lakers’ history isn’t just about rings; it’s about how mentorship and timing elevate talent into franchise-defining icons.

New York City’s favorite under-the-radar reshuffle could quietly tilt the Knicks’ fantasy profile this season. Jordan Clarkson’s signing shores up the second unit with shot-making and slash-ability, potentially trimming Miles McBride’s minutes and making him a trade candidate when the roster gets crowded. Guerschon Yabusele adds veteran depth to the bench, giving coach Mike Brown more lineup flexibility and a reliable floor spacer at times. On the other coast, Milwaukee’s move to bring in Turner and the cap-space path tied to Damian Lillard’ situation signals a shifting East where New York and Cleveland lead the pack. These dominoes—plus the health blows to Pacers, Celtics, and Bucks—shape a clearer path for Knicks’ fantasy assets, especially in deeper leagues where bench players and trade leverage swing value. The Knicks’ ascent to the Eastern Conference Finals last season and the aim to energize the offense under Brown make Clarkson a high-upside bet off the pine, while Turner’s defensive radius with the Bucks could lift several teammates’ stat lines.